Operating mechanism of open/close body

ABSTRACT

An operating mechanism for an open/close object comprising a driving device for driving and opening the open/close object, a position detecting device for detecting an open position of the open/close object ( 1 ), and a fully open position storage device for storing a fully open position of the open/close object, wherein, when the driving device drives and opens the open/close object, the driving device is stopped in a fully open recognition position stored in the fully open position storage device or a position a fixed amount short of the fully open recognition position. When a current position of the open/close object after completion of the opening drive by the driving device is different from the fully open recognition position (# 1 ), the fully open position storage device sets a new fully open recognition position (# 2 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an operating mechanism for anopen/close object comprising a driving device for driving open theopen/close object, a position detecting device for detecting an openposition of the open/close object, and a fully open position storagedevice for storing a fully open position of the open/close object,wherein, when said driving device drives open said open/close object,said driving device is stopped in the fully open recognition positionstored in said fully open position storage device or in a position afixed amount short of the fully open recognition position.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, among back doors of minivans or the like, some backdoors are automatically openable by a driving device. An automaticopening and closing apparatus of such a door is shown in JapaneseUtility Model Application “Kokai” No. Hei 3-41088, for example.

That is, the above apparatus has an opening and closing mechanism forautomatically opening and closing a door with an actuator. The openingand closing mechanism has a door opening detector in the form of a holesensor for outputting a signal corresponding to an opening degree of thedoor.

This apparatus aims at detecting accurately, with this hole sensor, notonly a full opening and a full closing of the door but opening degreesof the door in the course of its opening and closing.

However, the above conventional automatic opening and closing apparatushas the following problems.

For example, different vehicles have different door attaching states,and the fully open position is not necessarily uniform. Therefore, whilethe above actuator accurately controls an amount of opening of the door,if a stop position of the door is set larger than a structural fullyopen position, an excessive force will be applied to door hinges and thelike, resulting in an inconvenience such as damage to the door hinges ordefective fitting of the door.

Where a stop position is in the opening side of the structural fullyopen position of the door, the door will reach the structural fully openposition without a stop control of the automatic opening operation ofthe door. The opening operation will become unpleasant to the sight.

On the other hand, where a stop position of the door by the actuator isset smaller than the structural fully open position, the door openingitself becomes small which encumbers loading and unloading of baggage.

Where dampers or the like are used in combination, after driving by theactuator, a further opening operation is performed by the dampers, sothat the opening operation becomes a two-stage operation which isunsightly also.

The object of this invention is to solve the above conventionalproblems, and provide an operating mechanism for an open/close objectwhich performs a sightly opening operation without damaging a mountingstructure of the open/close object.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An operating mechanism for an open/close object according to the presentinvention has the following characterizing features:

A first characterizing feature according to the present invention liesin that, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, an operating mechanism for theopen/close object 1 comprises a driving device 3 for driving open theopen/close object 1, a position detecting device for detecting an openposition of the open/close object 1, and a fully open position storagedevice 5 a for storing a fully open position of the open/close object 1,wherein, when said driving device 3 drives open said open/close object1, said driving device 3 is stopped in a fully open recognition positionstored in said fully open position storage device 5 a or a position afixed amount short of the fully open recognition position, and when acurrent position of the open/close object 1 after completion of theopening drive by said driving device 3 is different from said fully openrecognition position, said fully open position storage device 5 a sets anew fully open recognition position.

The current position of the open/close object after completion of theopening drive by said driving device, in many cases, means thestructural fully open position of the open/close object. That is, theoperating mechanism having this construction is given a positionlearning function for gradually bringing the currently recognized fullyopen recognition position close to the structural fully open position ofthe open/close object. With such a learning function, even when aninitial fully open position of the open/close object is setprovisionally, the open/close object can be driven to open to thevicinity of the structural fully open position by the learning function.This renders an automatic opening operation of the open/close objectpleasing to the sight.

And the open/close object may be opened without applying an excessiveforce to the mounting mechanism and the like of the open/close object.

A second characterizing feature according to the present invention liesin that, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, in the first characterizing feature,when said current position is a position open to a larger extent thansaid fully open recognition position (#1), said fully open positionstorage device 5 a recognizes said current position to be said new fullyopen recognition position (#2).

Generally, said current position often is the structural fully openposition of the open/close object. Therefore, when, as in thisconstruction, the current position after completion of an openingoperation is recognized to be a new fully open recognition position, anext opening operation will be aimed at the structural fully openposition. In this way, a stopping position of the open/close object maybe brought close to said structural fully open position promptly.

A third characterizing feature according to the present invention liesin that, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, in the first characterizing feature,when said current position is a position open to a larger extent thansaid fully open recognition position (#1), said fully open positionstorage device 5 a recognizes a position between said current positionand said fully open recognition position to be said new fully openrecognition position (#2).

This arrangement can check an abrupt correction of the fully openrecognition position of the open/close object, and thus is free from asituation where a position for ending the opening operation overshootsthe structural fully open position. Therefore, while preventing aninconvenience such as damage to the mounting part of the open/closeobject, the fully open recognition position of the open/close object maygradually be brought close to the structural fully open position.

A fourth characterizing feature according to the present invention liesin that, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, in the first characterizing feature,said fully open position storage device 5 a recognizes a currentposition of said open/close object 1 upon lapse of a fixed time (#3)after completion of the opening drive by said driving device 3 (#1, 2),to be said new fully open recognition position (#4).

Where, as in this arrangement, the current position of the open/closeobject upon lapse of a fixed time is recognized, even when theopen/close object temporarily operates to a position different from thefully open position owing to an unexpected factor, e.g. a manual forceor wind pressure, the fully open position may be detected after lapse ofa time at which the open/close object is thought to have stopped stillin the structural fully open position. Therefore, it is possible toavoid a situation effectively in which an excessive or insufficientposition is regarded as a fully open recognition position by mistake.

A fifth characterizing feature according to the present invention liesin that, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, in the first characterizing feature,said fully open position storage device 5 a recognizes a positionbetween a position of said open/close object 1 and said fully openrecognition position upon lapse of a fixed time (#3) after completion ofthe opening drive by said driving device 3 (#1, 2), to be said new fullyopen recognition position (#4).

Where, as in this arrangement, a new fully open recognition position isset between the current position after lapse of said fixed time and thecurrently recognized fully open recognition position, an abruptcorrection of the fully open recognition position of the open/closeobject may be checked. Thus, while preventing an inconvenience such asdamage to the mounting part of the open/close object, for example, thefully open recognition position of the open/close object may graduallybe brought close to the structural fully open position.

A sixth characterizing feature according to the present invention liesin that, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, in the first characterizing feature,said open/close object 1 includes an overload checking device, and whenthe overload checking device detects an overload (#2) in a predeterminedregion which is a region adjacent said fully open recognition position(#1), said fully open position storage device 5 a recognizes a positionopen to a smaller extent than said fully open recognition position to besaid new fully open recognition position (#3).

If the fully open recognition position is open to a larger extent thanthe structural fully open position of the open/close object, an overloadwill act on the mounting part or the like of the open/close object.Where, as in this arrangement, a position open to a smaller extent thanthe current fully open recognition position to be a new fully openrecognition position when an overload is detected, the above overloadmay be prevented, thereby effectively preventing damage to theopen/close object or the driving device.

A seventh characterizing feature according to the present invention liesin that, as shown in FIG. 1, in the first characterizing feature, saidopen/close object 1 includes an open/close object raising mechanism 30for biasing said open/close object 1 in an opening direction, whichcauses an opening operation from a position where said drive device 3 isstopped to a structural fully open position of said open/close object 1.

As in this construction, an open/close object raising mechanism such asair dampers may be provided to stop the drive by the driving deviceshort of the current fully open recognition position, and to open theopen/close object reliably to the structural fully open position, whileavoiding damage to the open/close object.

An eighth characterizing feature according to the present invention liesin that, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, in the seventh characterizingfeature, when said open/close object 1 operates at least a fixed amountto an opening side (#4) within a fixed time (#3) after completion of theopening drive by said driving device 3 (#1, 2), and a current positionof said open/close object 1 is a position open to a larger extent thansaid fully open recognition position (#5), said current position isrecognized to be said new fully open recognition position (#6).

In this construction, the open/close object has a mixture of the openingoperation by the driving device and the opening operation by theopen/close object raising mechanism. Based on a fixed time at which theopening operation by the open/close object raising mechanism is expectedto have settled, when the open/close object stays still in a positionopen to a larger extent by a fixed amount than the current fully openrecognition position, a new full open recognition position isestablished.

Therefore, since the opening operation by the open/close object raisingmechanism may be set to a minimal stroke, the opening operation of theopen/close object is smooth and pleasing to the sight.

A ninth characterizing feature according to the present invention liesin that, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, in the seventh characterizingfeature, when said open/close object 1 operates at least a fixed amountto an opening side (#4) within a fixed time (#3) after completion of theopening drive by said driving device 3 (#1, 2), and a current positionof said open/close object 1 is a position open to a larger extent thansaid fully open recognition position (#5), a position between saidcurrent position and said fully open recognition position is recognizedto be said new fully open recognition position (#6).

With this arrangement, in the open/close object using the opening driveby the open/close object raising mechanism, its fully open recognitionposition is not brought close to the structural fully open position atonce, but may be brought close to the structural fully open positiongradually. Therefore, while preventing an inconvenient such as damage tothe mounting part of the open/close object, for example, the fully openrecognition position of the open/close object may be brought close tothe structural fully open position gradually.

A tenth characterizing feature according to the present invention liesin that, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 11, in the seventh characterizingfeature, when said open/close object 1 does not operate at least a fixedamount to an opening side (#4) within a fixed time (#3) after completionof the opening drive by said driving device 3 (#1, 2), a position opento a smaller extent than said fully open recognition position isrecognized to be said new fully open recognition position (#5).

Where the open/close object raising mechanism is used in combinationwith the driving device, it is preferable that, after stopping thedriving device in a position short of the fully open recognitionposition, the open/close object raising mechanism is caused to performsome opening operation and stop the open/close object in the structuralfully open position.

However, when the current fully open recognition position is very closeto the structural fully open position or beyond the structural fullyopen position, an amount of opening by the open/close object raisingmechanism may not be obtained. If a malfunction occurs with the drivingdevice, the open/close object will easily overshoot the structural fullyopen position, resulting in an inconvenience such as damage to themounting part of the open/close object.

Thus, as in this arrangement, a new fully open recognition position isset to the closing side when the opening operation of the open/closeobject does not fulfill the predetermined conditions. This arrangementcan effectively prevent an inconvenience such as the above damage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an outline of an operatingmechanism for an open/close object according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a fully closed state of theopen/close object;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a fully open state of theopen/close object;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing learning mode 1 of the operatingmechanism according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing learning mode 2 of the operatingmechanism according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing learning mode 3 of the operatingmechanism according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing learning mode 4 of the operatingmechanism according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing learning mode 5 of the operatingmechanism according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing learning mode 6 of the operatingmechanism according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing learning mode 7 of the operatingmechanism according to the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing learning mode 8 of the operatingmechanism according to the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafterwith reference to the drawings.

[Outline]

An operating mechanism for an open/close object according to the presentinvention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 8.

The open/close object of the present invention is applied mainly to anopen/close object automatically openable by a drive motor. It isapplicable to a back door 1 of a minivan as shown in FIG. 1, forexample, and also applicable to an ordinary vehicle door such as a trunkluggage door or slide door. Further, it is applicable to an ordinarygarage door, which door is the type that opens upward.

The example shown hereinafter is an application to the back door 1 ofthe minivan shown in FIG. 1. The back door 1, as shown in FIG. 2, isattached to an upper rear part of a vehicle body 12 through door hinges1 a. A driving device 3 is disposed on the vehicle body 12 for drivingthe back door 1 to an open position in response to operation of a mainswitch 6 disposed inside the vehicle or a handle switch 8 disposed onthe back door 1, or a wireless remote control switch not shown.

FIG. 2 shows a fully closed state, while FIG. 3 shows a fully openstate.

Said driving device 3 mainly includes a drive motor M, a reductionmechanism R for adjusting rotating speed of the drive motor M, an armmember 3b and rod 4 for connecting the reduction mechanism R and theback door 1, and further a controller 5 for controlling operation ofsaid drive motor M. Air dampers 30 are disposed to extend between saidvehicle body 12 and the back door 1 for supporting the back door 1operated to a fully open position.

As said driving device 3, for example, a varied DC motor may be usedalong with a rotary encoder or the like, so that a turning angle androtating speed of the drive motor M is controllable by said controller5. This construction functions as a position detecting device fordetecting a current position of the back door 1.

This position detecting device, based on an output from said rotaryencoder or the like, outputs position data indicating a current positionin an opening and closing direction of the back door 1 to the controller5. The position data outputted from this position detecting deviceincludes data obtained through a predetermined conversion performedbased on the output from said rotary encoder or the like and directlyindicating a current position of the back door 1, and the output itselffrom said rotary encoder or the like and indirectly indicating a currentposition of the back door 1. The data directly indicating a currentposition of the back door 1, for example, may be data expressed as anopening degree (angle from the fully closed position) of the back door 1or as an operating angle of the arm member 3 b.

The operating mechanism for the open/close object of this inventioncauses the fully open position of the back door 1 to be learned andrecognized in order to drive the back door 1 to a proper positionparticularly when the back door 1 is opened by the driving device 3.

When the back door 1 is fully opened, it assumes a stationary posture ina structural fully open position. In principle, therefore, the properposition to which the back door 1 is driven is the structural fully openposition. However, the structural fully open position of the back door 1varies from vehicle to vehicle, and the position may also change with anincrease in the number of opening and closing times.

Thus, in the operating mechanism for the open/close object of thepresent invention, an amount of automatic opening of the back door 1 isappropriately adjusted by the learning modes described hereinafter. Inthis embodiment, a fully open recognition position, current position anddrive stop position are defined in the controller 5 as datacorresponding to position data indicating positions in the opening andclosing direction of the back door 1. These position data, with thelarger values, represent the wider open positions of the back door 1.

(Learning Mode 1)

This mode will be described with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows aschematic view showing operation of the back door 1, and a subroutinefor causing said controller 5 to learn a fully open position.

In this learning mode, for example, when the drive motor M which is oneexample of driving device drives the back door 1, a current positionafter the opening operation of the back door 1 is completed is open to alarger extent than a fully open recognition position recognized by afully open position storage device 5 a of said controller 5, namely intime of “fully open recognition position<current position” (FIG. 4, #1),said fully open position storage device 5 a is caused to adopt thecurrent position as a new fully open recognition position (FIG. 4, #2).

Usually, the fully open recognition position of the back door 1 storedin the controller 5 is set open to a smaller extent than the structuralfully open position of the back door 1 by taking an assemblingdispersion of the back door 1 into account. The back door 1 is opened bythe drive motor M to the fully open recognition position or to aposition a fixed amount short of the fully open recognition position.This position is henceforth called the drive stop position.

Usually, an electromagnetic clutch of the drive motor M is operated insaid drive stop position to disconnect the drive motor M. Generally, theback door 1 has air dampers 30 or the like which are one example ofopen/close object raising mechanism. Therefore, the back door 1 isfurther opened from said drive stop position by the air dampers 30, tobe opened to and stay still in the structural fully open position.

According to this learning mode 1, when an opening operation endingposition is open to a larger extent than the fully open recognitionposition currently recognized as noted above, the fully open recognitionposition is re-set to the opening side. Thus, even when an originalfully open recognition position is set to a preliminary position in timeof assembly of the open/close object, the fully open recognitionposition may be brought close to the structural fully open positionpromptly.

(Learning Mode 2)

This learning mode will be described with reference to FIG. 5.

This learning mode sets a reduced amount to the correction of the fullyopen recognition position by the above learning mode 1. When the fullyopen recognition position by learning mode 1 is corrected, for example,the fully open position of the back door 1 next time should be thestructural fully open position. However, a manual force or wind pressurecould be added at a previous learning time. Such an unexpected factorcould result in a fully open recognition position overshooting thestructural fully open position. Even if the fully open recognitionposition is a correct position, it cannot be said that an error cannever occur with the motor drive which would cause an overshoot beyondthe structural fully open position, damaging the door hinges la and thelike.

Thus, in this learning mode 2, when a current position of the back door1 is open to a larger extent than the fully open recognition position,namely in time of “fully open recognition position <current position”(#1), said fully open position storage device 5 a is caused to adopt aposition between said current position and said fully open recognitionposition as a new fully open recognition position (#2). Specifically, inthis embodiment, the controller 5 derives a new fully open recognitionposition by performing a calculation based on an equation “fully openrecognition position=(n×current position+m×fully open recognitionposition)÷(n+m)”, and stores it in the fully open position storagedevice 5 a. Here, n and m are arbitrary positive numbers, and thesevalues usually are set beforehand in time of delivery.

Specifically, for example, what is called filtering is applied, such astaking weighted averages, according to a current fully open position anda currently recognized fully open recognition position. With thisarrangement, an abrupt correction of the fully open recognition positionof the back door 1 may be checked to prevent an inconvenience such asdamage to the mounting part of the back door 1. The fully openrecognition position of the back door 1 may gradually be brought closeto the structural fully open position.

(Learning Mode 3)

This mode will be described with reference to FIG. 6. This learning modetakes a time component into consideration in determining a new fullyopen recognition position.

For example, an opened state of the back door 1 may temporarily becomeexcessive or insufficient owing to a manual force or wind pressureapplied to the back door 1 just before the back door 1 ends an openingoperation by the drive. Where a method such as the above learning mode 1is used in such a case, the new fully open recognition position willdiffer from the structural fully open position.

Thus, in this learning mode 3, after the opening drive by said drivingdevice 3 is completed (#1, 2), upon lapse of a fixed time T(r) (#3), thefully open position storage device 5 a recognizes a current position ofthe back door 1 to be a new fully open recognition position (#4). It ispreferred here to set the fixed time T (r) longer than a time taken tooperate the back door 1 to the structural fully open position afterstopping in a position different from the fully open position owing toan unexpected factor. Such time is set by the rule of thumb, experimentor the like.

With this arrangement, even when the back door 1 temporarily operates toa position different from the fully open position owing to an unexpectedfactor, the fully open position may be detected after the back door 1stops in the structural fully open position. Therefore, it is possibleto avoid a situation effectively in which an excessive or insufficientposition is regarded as a fully open recognition position by mistake.

(Learning Mode 4)

This learning mode will be described with reference to FIG. 7.

This learning mode sets a reduced amount to the correction of the fullyopen recognition position by the above learning mode 3. The purport ofthis learning mode is the same as the purport of learning mode 2 inrelation to the foregoing learning mode 1.

Specifically, in this learning mode 4, after the opening drive by saiddriving device 3 is completed (#1, 2), upon lapse of the fixed time T(r)(#3), the fully open position storage device 5 a recognizes a positionbetween said position of the back door 1 and said fully open recognitionposition to be said new fully open recognition position (#4). Specificprocesses at #3 and #4 may be similar to the process at #2 in the above

(Learning Mode 2).

According to this mode, an abrupt correction of the fully openrecognition position of the back door 1 may be checked to prevent aninconvenience such as damage to the mounting part of the back door 1,for example. The fully open recognition position of the back door 1 maygradually be brought close to the structural fully open position.

(Learning Mode 5)

This learning mode will be described with reference to FIG. 8.

This learning mode corrects the fully open recognition position to theclosing side particularly when the back door 1 is opened beyond thestructural fully open position.

FIG. 8 shows an example where a currently recognized fully openrecognition position and drive stop position are beyond the structuralfully open position. In this case, when the back door 1 is driven to thedrive stop position by the drive motor M, an excessive force will act oncertain part of the drive mechanism. Therefore, in order to preventdamage to the door hinges la or the like, it is necessary to correct thecurrently recognized fully open recognition position to the closingside.

That is, in this learning mode 5, the operating mechanism of the backdoor 1 includes an overload checking device. In a predetermined regionwhich is a region adjacent said fully open recognition position (#1),the overload checking device may detect an overload (#2). Then, thefully open position storage device 5 a is caused to recognize a positionto the closing side of the fully open recognition position to be a newfully open recognition position (#3).

Specifically, in this embodiment, the controller 5 derives a new fullyopen recognition position by performing a calculation based on anequation “fully open recognition position=fully open recognitionposition−D”, and stores it in the fully open position storage device 5a. Here, D is an arbitrary positive number, and its value usually is setbeforehand in time of delivery.

Said overload checking device may, for example, be a rotary encoderattached to said drive motor M. That is, the rotating speed of the motormay be monitored, to determine action of an overload when rotationalfrequency lowers by a fixed amount relative to a command value.

With this mode, a misrecognition as the fully open recognition positionof a position open to a larger extent than the structural fully openposition is corrected appropriately, thereby effectively preventingdamage to the back door 1 or the drive mechanism.

Other Embodiment

For example, the back door 1 of a minivan usually has right and left airdampers 30 for supporting the back door 1 in a fully open position.These air dampers 30, which are one example of open/close object raisingmechanism, act in an extending direction when the back door 1 is nearthe fully open position. With regard to the opening operation of theback door 1, in normal state, the back door 1 is first driven by thedrive motor M to open to the fully open recognition position or to saiddrive stop position set a fixed amount short of the fully openrecognition position. The drive motor M has a clutch using anelectromagnetic coupling, for example, and the clutch is disconnected intime of stopping drive. The back door 1, freed from restraint, and underan extending force of the air dampers 30, opens upward and stops in thestructural fully open position.

Generally, the motion of the back door 1 should preferably stop sharp insaid drive stop position. In reality, however, an excessive openingoperation by the drive motor M is prevented by setting the drive stopposition open to a smaller extent than the structural fully openposition, the further, fixed amount being left to the opening operationby the air dampers 30. With the air dampers 30 provided in this way, theback door 1 is opened reliably to the structural fully open positionwhile the drive by the drive motor M is stopped short to prevent damageto the back door 1. Therefore, the above opening operation by the airdampers 30 is indispensable.

Thus, the learning modes herein aim mainly at realizing a sightlyopening operation of the back door 1 by minimizing such openingoperation of the air dampers 30.

(Learning Mode 6)

For this purpose, in this learning mode, as shown in FIG. 9, forexample, when, after the opening drive by said driving device 3 iscompleted (#1, 2), within a fixed time T(s) (#3), the back door 1 isoperated at least a fixed amount to the open side (#4), and a currentposition of the back door 1 is open to a larger extent than the fullyopen recognition position, i.e. “fully open recognition position<current position” (#5), the current position is recognized to be a newfully open recognition position (#6). Here, the fixed time T(s) is setlonger than a time needed for the opening operation by the air dampers30.

With this mode, even where the back door 1 has a mixture of the openingoperation by the drive motor M and the opening operation by the airdampers 30, an opening operation may be effected to the vicinity of thestructural fully open position by the drive motor M. Moreover, since theopening operation by the air dampers 30 may be set to a minimal stroke,the opening operation of the back door 1 is smooth and pleasing to thesight.

(Learning Mode 7)

This learning mode will be described with reference to FIG. 10.

The purport of this learning mode, in the mode where the air dampers 30are used, is the same as the purport of learning mode 2 provided inrelation to the foregoing learning mode 1.

In this mode, when, after the opening drive by said driving device 3 iscompleted (#1, 2), within a fixed time T(s) (#3), the back door 1 isoperated at least a fixed amount to the open side (#4), and a currentposition of the back door 1 is open to a larger extent than the fullyopen recognition position, i.e. “fully open recognition position<currentposition” (#5), a position between the current position and said fullyopen recognition position is recognized to be a new fully openrecognition position (#6). A specific process at #6 here may be similarto the process at #2 in the above (Learning Mode 2).

With this mode, also where the back door 1 uses the opening drive by theair dampers 30, the fully open recognition position of the back door 1may gradually be brought close to the structural fully open position.

(Learning Mode 8)

This learning mode will be described with reference to FIG. 11. Thismode, where the air dampers 30 are used, aims at re-setting a new fullyopen recognition position to the closing side when the fully openrecognition position is extremely close to the structural fully openposition or is beyond the structural fully open position.

In this mode, when, after the opening drive by said driving device 3 iscompleted (#1, 2), within a fixed time T(s) (#3), the back door 1 doesnot operate at least a fixed amount to the open side (#4), a positionopen to a smaller extent than the fully open recognition position isrecognized to be a new fully open recognition position (#6). A specificprocess at #5 here may be similar to the process at #3 in the above(Learning Mode 5).

A position open to a smaller extent than the fully open recognitionposition may, for example, be an initial value of the fully openrecognition position or a position open to a smaller extent by aselected amount than a current fully open recognition position.

FIG. 11 shows an example where the back door 1, after the opening driveby the drive motor M, is slightly opened by the air dampers 30.

When an amount of opening by the air dampers 30 is smaller than saidfixed amount, the back door 1 may easily overshoot the structural fullyopen position owing to a malfunction of the drive motor M or the like.In order to prevent this, a new fully open recognition position is setto the closing side as in the above mode.

Besides the example shown in FIG. 11, it is also conceivable that acurrent fully open recognition position is already beyond the structuralfully open position of the back door 1. In such a case, of course, a newfully open recognition position is re-set to the closing side.

(Effects)

According to the operating mechanism for an open/close object accordingto this invention, as described above, the fully open recognitionposition may be brought close to the structural fully open positionwithout damaging the drive mechanism and the like of the open/closeobject. That is, even if the fully open recognition position is set to alarge extent to the closing side from the structural fully openposition, a subsequent correction of the fully open position is easy.Thus, there is no need to assemble the open/close object strictly and,for example, the number of vehicle assembling steps may be reduced.

Even when the structural fully open position changes with use of theopen/close object, the fully open recognition position can always bebrought close to said structural fully open position. Therefore, aftertermination of a driving and opening operation, the open/close objectstops in a short time to render the opening operation of the open/closeobject pleasing to the sight. Particularly where the driving device andair dampers are used in combination, a prominent effect can be obtainedsince the opening operation by both does not appear divided into twostages.

INDUSTRIAL UTILITY

The operating mechanism for the open/close object of this invention maybe used for a back door of a minivan, an ordinary vehicle door such as atrunk luggage door or slide door, and further an ordinary garage doorwhich door is the type that opens upward.

1. An operating mechanism for an open/close object (1) comprising: adriving device (3) for driving open the open/close object (1); aposition detecting device for detecting an open position of theopen/close object (1); and a fully open position storage device (6a) forstoring a fully open position of the open/close object (1); wherein,when said driving device (3) drives open said open/close object (1),said driving device (3) is stopped in the fully open recognitionposition stored in said fully open position storage device (6a) or aposition a fixed amount short of the fully open recognition position;the operating mechanism for the open/close object (1) being constructedsuch that, when a current position of the open/close object (1) aftercompletion of the opening drive by said driving device (3) is differentfrom said fully open recognition position, said fully open positionstorage device (6a) sets a new fully open recognition position.
 2. Anoperating mechanism for an open/close object (1) as defined in claim 1,wherein, when said current position is a position open to a largerextent than said fully open recognition position, said fully openposition storage device (5a) recognizes said current position to be saidnew fully open recognition position.
 3. An operating mechanism for anopen/close object (1) as defined in claim 1, wherein, when said currentposition is a position open to a larger extent than said fully openrecognition position, said fully open position storage device (5a)recognizes a position between said current position and said fully openrecognition position to be said new fully open recognition position. 4.An operating mechanism for an open/close object (1) as defined in claim1, wherein said fully open position storage device (5a) recognizes acurrent position of said open/close object (1) upon lapse of a fixedtime after completion of the opening drive by said driving device (3),to be said new fully open recognition position.
 5. An operatingmechanism for an open/close object (1) as defined in claim 1, whereinsaid fully open position storage device (5a) recognizes a positionbetween a position of said open/close object (1) and said fully openrecognition position upon lapse of a fixed time after completion of theopening drive by said driving device (3), to be said new fully openrecognition position.
 6. An operating mechanism for an open/close object(1) as defined in claim 1, wherein said open/close object (1) includesan overload checking device, and when the overload checking devicedetects an overload in a predetermined region which is a region adjacentsaid fully open recognition position, said fully open position storagedevice (5a) recognizes a position open to a smaller extent than saidfully open recognition position to be said new fully open recognitionposition.
 7. An operating mechanism for an open/close object (1) asdefined in claim 1, wherein said open/close object (1) includes anopen/close object raising mechanism (30) for biasing said open/closeobject (1) in an opening direction, which causes an opening operationfrom a position where said drive device (3) is stopped to a structuralfully open position of said open/close object (1).
 8. An operatingmechanism for an open/close object (1) as defined in claim 7, wherein,when said open/close object (1) operates at least a fixed amount to anopening side within a fixed time after completion of the opening driveby said driving device (3), and a current position of said open/closeobject (1) is a position open to a larger extent than said fully openrecognition position, said current position is recognized to be said newfully open recognition position.
 9. An operating mechanism for anopen/close object (1) as defined in claim 7, wherein, when saidopen/close object (1) operates at least a fixed amount to an openingside within a fixed time after completion of the opening drive by saiddriving device (3), and a current position of said open/close object (1)is a position open to a larger extent than said fully open recognitionposition, a position between said current position and said fully openrecognition position is recognized to be said new fully open recognitionposition.
 10. An operating mechanism for an open/close object (1) asdefined in claim 7, wherein, when said open/close object (1) does notoperate at least a fixed amount to an opening side within a fixed timeafter completion of the opening drive by said driving device (3), aposition open to a smaller extent than said fully open recognitionposition is recognized to be said new fully open recognition position.